Los Angeles Marijuana Dispensaries

January 23, 2015

Former Real Housewife Plans to Launch “Munchie Free” Marijuana

These days, it seems like everyone is trying to cash in on the growing marijuana business. While entrepreneurs may have to wait for Congress to loosen restrictions nationwide, piecemeal business plans are already shaping up where pot is legalized, both for recreational or medicinal use. Investors are positioning themselves to make it big in the pot industry, even though pay-outs have been difficult to predict in Colorado, Washington, and eventually other states where tax burdens will likely increase the cost of legal-market pot.

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Still, entrepreneurs like Bethanny Frankel, best known for her role in the “Housewives” series, is going to reveal a “Skinnygirl” marijuana brand in states where cannabis is legal.

The Skinnygirl brand marketed low-calorie products to fit image of its founder. Now the new line of weed is allegedly supposed to curb the well-established “munchies effect” of pot smoking. According to US Weekly, plans are underway to launch the already successful brand in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington where recreational cannabis has been legalized. Promoters and other insiders are backing up the claim that the new strand of weed won’t give users the munchies, a promising attribute for those who want to enjoy the benefits of pot use while maintaining their weight. The Skinnygirl brand has been wildly successful nationwide for its other products, including the low-calorie “Skinnygirl Margarita” mix.
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January 14, 2015

Court: Concentrated Cannabis Qualifies as Medical Marijuana in CA

By Cannabis Law Group

Critics often claim newer strains of marijuana are much stronger and potentially more dangerous. In a recent case, a state appellate court in Sacramento recently ruled that “concentrated cannabis” qualifies as marijuana for purposes of medical use.

The decision was made unanimously by a three-justice panel. The Third District Court of Appeals disagreed with an earlier decision by an El Dorado Superior Court Judge, who found a medical marijuana patient violated probation by possessing concentrated cannabis. The new decision could potentially help future defendants who are caught in possession of highly concentrated cannabis.

According to court records, defendant was charged in 2013 with unlawful possession of concentrated cannabis. Though the charge was only a misdemeanor, defendant was on probation and the infraction amounted to a parole violation because he allegedly failed to “obey all laws.” At the time of arrest, a probation officer searched defendant and found .16 grams of “honey oil,” a concentrated form of cannabis, along with .05 grams of “dabs” and another 3.33 grams of marijuana. The defendant had a physician’s recommendation for the use of marijuana and for the active ingredient THC to treat acid reflux and migraines.
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January 13, 2015

Beverly Hills Cannabis Club: The New Face of Marijuana

By Cannabis Law Group

The face of marijuana is changing in California and nationwide. No more are the images of stoners smoking pot in dark college dorm rooms, or hippie drumming circles of the 1960s and 70s. Access and interest in pot is ranging from business types to stay-at-home moms.

The Beverly Hills Cannabis Club is a high-end marijuana dispensary that demonstrates this shift in pot buyers and a growing demand for pot at every social echelon. The dispensary displays an array of products ranging from edibles including marijuana-laced brownies, pretzels and candies to jars of the newly available cannabis strands which are arranged daily. Another case offers an exclusive line of products with “Beverly Hills Cannabis Club,” clothing and products ranging from golf shirts, ashtrays, personal products, and hand-held vaporizers.

The Beverly Hills Cannabis Club is one of many California dispensaries that is changing the face of not only pot smoking, but pot distribution. The founder and owner of the BHCC has taken a strategic approach to the distribution and sale of marijuana. Rather than take a grass roots “pro-marijuana” activist approach, the owner has taken a traditional business model with a focus on market opportunities. To promote her club and reform, the owner has been known to make regular television appearances. While critics say that she may be only selling herself, no one can deny that she is making waves and inspiring a discussion on the debate.
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January 7, 2015

First Tribal Grow Operation in Northern California

By Cannabis Law Group

Native American tribal lands are not held to the same standards as state and even federal lands, but are they permissible to grow marijuana? According to reports, the first tribally-sanctioned marijuana cultivation operation in Northern California, and perhaps the nation, was announced this month. This follows the Obama administration’s new permissive policy concerning marijuana grow operations on tribal lands, announced in December.

The U.S. Justice Department publicized an internal memo instructing U.S. attorneys not to intervene with tribes that want to grow and sell marijuana on sovereign lands. To prevent federal intervention, tribes are required to maintain “robust and effective regulatory systems.” In effect, the policy is similar to the guidelines that preempt federal intervention where states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes or recreational use. According to analysts the memo could have significant impact on tribes that choose to pursue marijuana growing operations and sales. Some opine marijuana could replace casinos as a primary source of revenue on tribal lands. As many tribes are opposed to legalizing pot on their lands, the federal government has also agreed to continue to enforce anti-marijuana legislation if requested by the tribe.
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January 3, 2015

Two States Sue Colorado for Legalization of Marijuana

By Cannabis Law Group

Colorado has been criticized internally, by neighboring states, politicians, non-profits, the medical community, and individuals who only see the negative side of legalization. While there are potential medical and public health risks, there are also potential economic losses and other business damages related to the marijuana industry. Colorado’s neighboring states and others allege that legalization has made it more difficult to enforce laws internally. It has also had severe economic costs on law enforcement agencies and related businesses. While not every state is joining the lawsuit, others have seen legalization cause harm, including economic losses that could make Colorado liable.

The federal lawsuit was filed by plaintiffs, Nebraska and Oklahoma, alleging the Colorado marijuana policy is a violation of the U.S Constitution and places and undue burden on neighboring states. Marijuana is legal under federal law, and the U.S. Constitution prevents certain kinds of competition between states. According to the complaint, the combination of these anti-drug laws and Constitutional protections make the Colorado legalization a violation of other states’ rights.

Colorado Attorney General, John Suthers, has refused to back down and is taking an aggressive approach to defeat the claim. He has made public statements that he intends to defend the marijuana laws. In defense, the Attorney General explains the major grievance named by the other states is that the Colorado law is in violation of federal drug policy. Here, the attorney has explained that the other states do not have grounds to file a claim.
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January 1, 2015

PayPal Co-Founder First Multi-Million Dollar Marijuana Investor

By Cannabis Law Group

In California and nationwide, the world’s most powerful entrepreneurs and innovators are getting behind the marijuana business. According to recent reports, co-founder of Paypal, Peter Theil, is investing millions of dollars in a Seattle-based marijuana venture.

Even though marijuana is still considered illegal under federal law, entrepreneurs have seen their opportunities and the potential for dollar signs grow. Theil’s venture capital firm, known as “The Founders Fund,” has confirmed taking a minority stake in Privateer Holdings.

The company has invested in a Canadian medical marijuana grow operation as well as an online website responsible for marijuana dispensary reviews. The company has taken hold of all aspects of the marijuana business from growing to marketing and sales. Privateer was seeking for a $75 million funding contribution, though it is unclear how much Theil’s venture capital firm has contributed. Neither company has disclosed the amount of the deal, but analysts project it is in the multi-millions.

Privateer was the first private equity firm to invest in the cannabis industry when it acquired Leafly in 2011. Currently, Leafly is the only American company to operate with a federally licensed commercial marijuana cultivation plant in British Columbia.
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December 16, 2014

Pot Industry Breaks Stereotypes

By Cannabis Law Group

Pot smoking has always been clouded with stereotypes–users were often considered druggies, hippies, or “stoners.” Now that the legal landscape surrounding marijuana use is shifting, many of these stereotypes are lifting. In addition to more users coming out from the shadows, those who may not have been interested in pot use may be more compelled, for example, if they have been prescribed marijuana for medical use. Since Colorado legalized the use of marijuana in January 2014 pot has become a billion dollar business. For marketers, investors, and others cashing in on the marijuana business, making marijuana mainstream is a priority.

Attracting users from all walks of life also means ‘changing the face’ of marijuana. To attract less common users, people must be aware that marijuana goes beyond stoner culture. This means that they are both legitimate business operations and that pot use is more than just hitting a bong in a college dorm room. In Colorado, business owners are savvy, using advanced technology in growing operations and in the office. Where people used to worry about getting busted for smoking pot, many of these operations are now in full effect and stationed near police departments.
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December 12, 2014

Three Tons of Marijuana Seized on Hwy 1 and California Coast

By Cannabis Law Group

State and federal law enforcement officials are always on the lookout for illegal drug activity. This includes illegal possession, distribution, and trafficking of marijuana. In the state of California, where medical marijuana has been legalized, illegal grow operations, the black market, and thousands of recreational users make the state ripe for drug crime investigations and arrests. According to local reports, seven people were arrested in November after authorities confiscated up to 6,000 pounds of marijuana.

The investigation and drug bust occurred on Thanksgiving Day on California’s Central Coast near San Luis Obispo. At approximately 3:30 in the morning, an officer pulled over a van driving along Highway 1 and found between 60 and 90 large bales of marijuana. Officers estimated that the marijuana being transported in the van weighed somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 pounds. Immediately after discovering the drugs during the search, the driver was arrested and taken into custody.
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November 29, 2014

New Study Linking Addiction and Marijuana

By Cannabis Law Group

There are many drugs that are known for their highly addictive qualities: cocaine, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, even cigarettes. Addiction and chemical dependency are dangerous and can threaten the health and quality of life for users, but diagnosing and treating physical addiction can be complicated. Critics of marijuana legalization and other public health organizations have raised concerns about addiction. According to new research, their concerns may be valid. A recent study shows that those who have used marijuana daily for four years or more could undergo certain changes to the area of the brain commonly associated with addiction.

The research looked at the brains of 48 chronic marijuana users and compared MRI images to 62 persons who do not use marijuana. According to the investigators, those who had been smoking marijuana every day, for at least three times a day, had a smaller volume of grey matter in the orbitofrontal cortex and also showed greater connections between different parts of the brain, known as connectivity (a measure of how well information travels between different areas of the brain). After examining data, the researchers pointed out that, not only is there a structural change, but also a change in the connectivity of the brain. Lost brain volume could also be linked to the increased connectivity in other areas of the brain.
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November 27, 2014

Marijuana Legalization and the Real Estate Market

By Cannabis Law Group

Legalization of marijuana has changed not only the market for marijuana, but has impacted other industries as well. As the trend of legalization sweeps through the U.S., those in the real estate business have had to take note. New marijuana laws and regulations have had implications for property owners and management. It also can impact both commercial and residential real estate property and whether the marijuana business is industrial or a retail seller. In California, dispensary owners, legislators, investors, and property owners have had to take note of changes in the industry and the impact on rights and regulations.

Property issues related to marijuana growing operations ranges from landlord and tenant law, usage laws, environmental issues and the broader impact on real estate values. Depending on whether pot is grown in a residential or commercial environment, or if the property is governed by a homeowner’s association could also affect the rights of the tenant or property owner. Home owners and real estate professionals must be abreast of these changes as well. Where real estate brokers can profit from angling the best properties for marijuana production, new buyers must also have a clear understanding of their rights and obligations.
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